Rock climbing with extended elbows
Climbing with fully extended straight arms allows the weight of your body to hang on the skeleton rather than the biceps. This helps to conserve energy for the rest of the route.
- Take up a position on a climbing wall no more than one metre off the ground.
- Whilst holding the hand hold, position your hips away from the wall and push the weight through your feet.
- Extend your elbows out fully, do not flex your elbows and grip the wall with the minimum amount of strength necessary to steady your balance.
- Your centre of gravity is usually around your belly button, so wherever your feet and hands are contacting the wall, try to centre this point as best as you can between the two.
- If you have balanced correctly, you should feel your weight being held throughout the skeleton and limited energy used through your biceps, triceps and shoulder muscles.
- Follow steps for static climbing to proceed if necessary.